BETHLEHEM, Tuesday, March 26, 2019 (WAFA) – Dozens of extremist Israeli settlers raided today two mixed elementary schools in the town of Tuqu, to the southeast of the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem, provoked families and teachers and caused panic among the children, according to a local official.

Tayseer Abu Mefreh, director of Tuqu municipality, told WAFA that some 40 settler vehicles first gathered in the vicinity of al-Khansaa and al-Jarm schools leading the families to come to the schools in fear for their children and to stop the settlers if they try to break into the schools.

He said he had to dismiss the students early in fear or outbreak of violence from the settlers and in fear for the children’s lives.

Sami Marwa, head of the education department in Bethlehem, told WAFA that school teachers and staff prevented the settlers from entering the schools and closed the main gates to them.

He said that this barbaric act by the settlers caused fear among the children, noting that settlers have gathered outside the schools while holding Israeli flags and under the protection of Israeli forces.

K.T./M.K.